The two most important things at any camp are point guards and big guys.
And the adidas ABCD Camp was loaded with both, as 10 of the top 13 players in camp were
one or the other. The best player in camp was 6'3 Brett Nelson from St. Albans
(H.S.) NJ, who showed why he's been called "the best player to come out of West
Virginia since Jerry West and Ron "Hot
Rod" Hundley, but more frequently compared to Pete Maravich, because he is
an amazing passer with deep range and excellent speed and quickness in the open court.
Nelson didn't rank among the top 10 players in camp in any statistical category (he was
11th in camp in both assists and 3-point shooting), but he was the best player in camp
after the first day and by the end of the second day most of those with doubts about
Nelson being ranked #1 fell into line. All you had to do is watch him make his teammates
better, which is what he did in the all-star game when he had 8 assists.

If Nelson didn't lead the camp in amazing plays and great passes, 6'9 Carlos
Boozer from Juneau (Douglas) AK did. Offensively, nobody in camp was more effective
around the basket, as he out quicked or overpowered anybody he faced. In his head-to-head
matchup against 6'7 Donnell Harvey from Cuthbert (Randolph Clay) GA, he beat Harvey
at his own game, which is power and quickness. And he also played his own game, taking
Harvey outside and either shooting over him or driving past him for easy baskets. Boozer
is a powerfully built 4-man with the skills of a perimeter player who has to be the best
combo forward in the nation. If he rebounded a little more effectively, he would have made
a run at Nelson for camp MVP honors. Clearly he has the most potential of anybody in camp
to be a star at next level.

The best true man in camp was 6'10 Leon Smith from Chicago
(Martin Luther King) IL, who gave some validity to his comments at the NBA Players'
Association Camp when he told us he was thinking about going pro out of high school. He
was one of the few players in camp who played with a lot of intensity, as he refused to
take any prisoners inside. He's got very deceptive with footspeed and quick hands and
feet, which was evident by the fact that he ranked #5 in the camp in both steals and
assists. Smith looked like he enjoyed playing the game and we enjoying him, because it
seemed like he scored almost every time he touched the ball inside, even though he was not
one of the leading scorers. He was especially effective on the offensive boards and he
will only get better as time goes on, because he plays like he has something to prove and
he is already a physical specimen.

The MVP in the Underclasmen All-Star Game and HOOP SCOOP Kentucky
Editor Larry Kihnley's favorite player in camp was 6'9 Jr Alton Ford from
Houston (Milby) TX. "He's a man among boys in the paint," says Kihnley. "He
overpowered everyone he faced inside, but when he faced mammoth Glenn Bateman (the
6'10 Jr from Cass Tech High Schoo in Detroit, MI), Smith took Bateman outside, cleared the
lane, and rained 3-pointers over him. This is important because it shows his knowledge of
the game, which is why I think he's the best rising junior in the nation. Look for him to
never touch a college floor with his great talent, tremendous physical build, and amazing
versaility. He is the prototype NBA power forward, as his body looks like it was chisseled
out of stone.

Michigan players can't play in all-star games due to Michigan's State
High School Association rules, but 6'8 Soph Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor (H.S.)
MI was right there all week battling Smith and Ford for the #1 ranking at the center
position in camp. Whaley dominated around the basket, as was evident by the fact that he
ranked among the top 10 in camp in both rebounding and blocked shots. But, like Ford and
Smith, he can also play away from the basket. He's a great passer, he can get up and down
the court with the quickest uptempo guards, and he's got excellent shooting range. If he's
not the #1 sophomore in America, he at least in the top two along with 6'1 Dajuan
Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, who dominated at the NIKE All-American Camp.

Another one of the most talented players in camp was 6'11 Jonathon
Bender from Picayune (H.S.) MS. However, like so many great players in this day and
age, he had a hard time getting motivated to play in front of nearly college coach in the
country. At least until the all-star game, which actually saved him the rankings. Bender
has the versatily of Kevin Garnett, which was evident when he stepped outside twice
in the all-star game and showed the picture perfect jumper. This silky smooth athlete was
also one the leaders in camp in blocked shots, but didn't get it done on the boards like
he did a year ago.

6'7 Donnell Harvey from Cuthbert (Randolph-Clay) GA isn't really
a big man, but he plays a big man's game, as he makes a living with his strength,
athleticism, and all out hustle. Nobody plays harder and rebounds better, which is evident
by the fact that he is always one of the leaders in rebounding (ranked #3 in this camp).
However, Harvey gets ranked down by a lot of scouts, because his upside is questionable.
He lacks post moves and he's the same player we saw two year ago. As a result, what you
see might be what you get - an undersized 6'7 power forward.

The second best point guard in camp was 6'0 Majestic Mapp from
Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, who proved to be the perfect pure point guard, as he made
his teammates better, as he finished first in camp in assists with 5.5 apg, but also got
his own, as he was 20th in scoring with 10.6 ppg. Mapp is an excellent penetrator and
passer who thrives in an uptempo setting, but you don't appreciate how good he is unless
you really watch him, because he doesn't do anything flashy. He's not a great outside
shooter, but he is good enough to keep you honest. The fact that he's a great kid and
academically qualified make his value even greater, as he now makes a strong claim for top
player honors in New York City's guard oriented rising senior class.

Ranked right behind Mapp are 6'1 Ken Satterfield
from New York (Rice) NY and 6'1 Brett Darby from River Rouge (H.S.) MI. Satterfield
is really more of 2-guard, because he's so lethel in transition, but also proved to be an
outstanding passer in the all-star, as was evident by his eight assists. Darby is a
powerful built point guard who has the speed and quickness to beat you off the dribble and
create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He's also a ball hawking
defender who shut down every point guard he faces throughout the week. Plus he has great
savvy and and is a true team player.